Nursing Care for A Glaucoma Patient with High Intraocular Pressure and Comorbid Diabetes Mellitus Attending An Outpatient Examination

Abstract

     The objective of this case study was to investigate nursing practice guidelines for a patient with glaucoma with high intraocular pressure and comorbid diabetes who came for an outpatient examination. The sample for the case study was selected by purposive sampling among glaucoma patients with high intraocular pressure and comorbid diabetes who came for an outpatient examination. The researcher systematically collected data from medical records in the HOSxP system and information obtained from asking the patient and relatives, as well as from various other sources such as examination and treatment of ophthalmologists.  The patient was able to cooperate with treatment, use drugs effectively, keep up with ongoing doctor’s visits by appointment, and decrease intraocular pressure without blindness and complications from the comorbidity by following up with all 7 visits for a duration of 11 months and 20 days.
     This patient had been diagnosed with glaucoma as a result of diabetic retinopathy screening. Thus, the patient was considered a new glaucoma patient who started treatment with intraocular pressure drops (anti-glaucoma drug) to observe the response to medication and monitor intraocular pressure. Therefore, ophthalmic outpatient nurses play an important role in providing nursing care, especially for new glaucoma patients with diabetes mellitus, by providing reinforcing advice, behavioral adjustments, and participating in the care of patients and relatives, all of which can result in patients living safely from blindness.